Developing a Sustainable and Competitive Business Model for the Mt.8848 Cashmere/Pashmina Industry in Nepal

Abstract

This thesis builds a competitive and sustainable business model of Mt.8848, a proposed luxury pashmina company that is based on Nepal Himalayan traditions. The Nepalese pashmina, which is made of the fine undercoat of the Chyangra goat, has been appreciated in terms of its softness, warmth, and cultural meaning. But the industry has some problems such as poor supply chains, inconsistent quality, lack of certification, old-fashioned technology, and poor branding. Meanwhile, the international luxury markets demand a high level of sustainability, transparency, and the ethical production. This research will provide a design of an innovative business model to combine authenticity, sustainability, and competitiveness of the pashmina industry in Nepal.

The research adheres to the Constructive Research Methodology (CRM) which develops under problem definition, theoretical background, development of model, stakeholder interaction, and conceptual evaluation. The semi-structured interviews with Apex Pashmina Industry were used to gather data which was supported by policy documents (NTIS 2023; EU-Nepal TIP 2023), industry reports, and scholarly sources. They were analyzed using both thematic coding and triangulation to ensure depth and credibility.

Its theoretical basis is based on Business Model Canvas, Business Model Innovation, Resource-Based View, PESTEL, SWOT, and the Triple Bottom Line. The resulting model suggests certified Chyangra fiber, improved eco-dyeing and finishing techniques, empowerment of the artisans, digital traceability, and robust heritage-based branding as the pillars of the Mt.8848 strategy. The model has a financial feasibility estimate of 2028-2030 that supports the economic viability of the model.

The results indicate that Nepalese Pashmina Industry has good comparative advantages-heritage craftsmanship, the Himalayan identity and the favorable trade preferences (EBA and potential GSP+) but these are underutilized without coordinated branding, modern certification, and improved production systems. The Mt.8848 model shows that sustainability, authenticity, and innovation could all be combined to place Nepal among the players in the global luxury industry.

The thesis is original in that it offers a practical, stakeholder informed business model prototype for industry stakeholders and promotes the use of constructive research in heritage-based SMEs